St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-28

mouth, but it is incapable of originating any
impulse. 1t will stand still in the attitude
which it is placed until it dies of starva-
ton, but throw it in the air and it will fiv.
This is the condition OF the hypnotic sub
ject. The brain, when involved in hyp.
notlsm, cannot originate anything. It gets
all its ideas from without. The theory is
that the upper part of the brain, where ideas
are supposed to originate, becomes senseess
OF inactive, while the lower part is still
capable OF transmitting an impulse down
ward to the muscles of the body, and there
fore person may act in accordance with a
perception without having any idea of a
thing that is perceived. Accordingly DR..
HAMMoND's argument is that if laws are
made in accordance with the advancement
OF science there is good deal in this hyp-
motto condition which should be taken cog
nizance of by the legal authorities
practical demonstration of the correct
ness of this theory was given by DR.. HAM
MoND before the New York Medico- Legal
society, and to the utmost satisfaction of
that body. The subject was young dry
goods merchant of reputable character and
in good health. He was selected by DR..
HAMMOND because he was an impression
able individual and one whose probfty of
character was So we'll known that he would
be incapable of committing a crime in his
normal condition. And yet, when he was
brought into a hypnotic condition, he was
made TO lie and to steal. and to do it with
the apparent ease and indifference Of
hardened criminal. DR.. HAMMOND did it
to show that an INSCRIPTIONS individual
could take subject like this and make him
commit a burglary or any other crime. The
process of hypnotiZmg was simple one.
The subject was seated in chair and told
to look intently at piece of glass which
the doctor held before his eyes. In few
moments he became hypnotiZed. The doc
tor snapped his finger, said ''All right"
and the subject was restored tG normal
consciousness. By telling the young man
to listen. and striking tuning
fork, he was hypnotiZed again. ''How
long will he stay i'll that condition." asked
one of the members of the society. ''All the
way from one minute to two years." replied
Dr. HAMMOND, land could tell him to kill
any one in this room and he would do it,
to the young man and said: 'Do you see
that stone house over there? Well. in the
SecUnd-story room at the foot of the bed is
a chest of money. | want you to 60 in by
the basement window and get it." The
young man went through the performance
exactly as directed. When told that
policeman had seen him and was then COM
ing with one Of the notes he had dropped
| the young man denied that he had been in
the house at all, and slipping off into cor
! lrer OF the room. went through the move
ments of hiding the money. The only evil
dence of rationalism that was exhibited
during this hypnotic seanee was when the
| young man was asked what he was going
| to do at his trial. He promptly replied: ''I'il
get lawyer" But the society was imme-
diately thereafter satisfied that he was
| hypnotized, for when asked how he eX-
pected to pay the lawyer he replied
| IN get one. that don't charge any
thing" AS additional proof that the sub
ject would be willing instrument to COM
NIT crime at the bidding Of an INSCRIPTIONS
master, he was told to practice writing the
signature of a well-known banker in the
city, and when he had succeeded in coun-
| terfeiting it to draw his check on a certain
bank for S25, 600. 1t was done. Then, to
convince the society that the man was ir-
responsible for his conduct, DR.. HAMMOND
| burned him on the neck with red hot iron
without the subject evincing any conscious
ness of pain. Having shown how easy it
is to get such person as this young man
| i,,fn l.,
trate crime, Dr. HAMMOND insists that
hypnotism is really matter which requires
legislative action. His argument is that if
the law does not take notice of the matter,
after awhile we will find class of sharpers
who know how to use this influence, and
they will employ the innocent as instru-
ments of their unlawful schemes, while the
real perpetrators will remain invisible to
the eye of the law and secure from detec-
ton.